CHAPTER 1 第 1 章

There were once two children who had never eaten spaghetti. John and his sister Nicky would have loved to have eaten spaghetti, but they were never allowed to do so much as taste it because of Aunt Rebecca.
曾经有两个孩子从未吃过意大利面条。约翰和他的妹妹尼基很想吃意大利面条，但因为丽贝卡姨妈的缘故，他们连尝一尝都不被允许。

John and Nicky had lived with their aunt for as long as they could remember. Their parents were experts on volcanoes, which is
约翰和尼基从记事起就和姑姑住在一起。他们的父母都是火山专家，这也是
about one of the most dangerous jobs there is. They had to live in far-off places, waiting for volcanoes to erupt so that they could tell people what to do about it. It was far too dangerous a life for children and they had reluctantly had to pass John and Nicky over to Aunt Rebecca.
是最危险的工作之一。他们必须住在遥远的地方，等待火山爆发，这样他们才能告诉人们该怎么做。这种生活对孩子们来说太危险了，他们只好勉强把约翰和尼基交给丽贝卡姨妈。

Aunt Rebecca was a kind-hearted person, in a funny sort of way, and the children were fond of her - also in a funny sort of way. They knew that, for some reason, she was not very happy with life but they had never been able to work out exactly why this was.
丽贝卡姨妈心地善良，为人风趣，孩子们也很喜欢她--同样也是风趣。他们知道，出于某种原因，她对生活不是很满意，但他们一直不知道这到底是为什么。

'I think she's grumpy because the person she wanted to marry her never did so,' said Nicky one day when Aunt Rebecca had been particularly grouchy. Their aunt had once told the children that she had been engaged to be married to somebody but that the wedding had been called off at the last moment. But she had not said more than that, and the whole thing remained a bit of a mystery.
有一天，丽贝卡姨妈特别暴躁，尼基说："我觉得她脾气暴躁是因为她想嫁的人没有嫁给她。姨妈曾经告诉孩子们，她已经和某人订婚了，但婚礼在最后一刻被取消了。但她没有说过更多，整件事一直是个谜。

Life with Aunt Rebecca was a little bit strange. It was not that she was always grumpy - she wasn't. But when she wasn't grumpy, she would almost certainly do rather odd things. For instance, they might find Aunt Rebecca in the sitting room, dancing to music. And it was not the sort of dancing that you might do by yourself, it was as if she was pretending to be dancing with somebody. She would have her arms held out before her, a dreamy look on her face, and she would whirl about the room just as if she were being guided by an invisible partner. This meant that the children were worried about bringing friends back to the house just in case something embarrassing happened. And for this reason, they had fewer friends than other people. But they were fond enough of one another's company and they saw their friends at school.
和丽贝卡姨妈在一起的生活有点奇怪。并不是说她总是脾气暴躁--她不是。但当她不暴躁的时候，她几乎肯定会做一些奇怪的事情。比如，他们会发现丽贝卡姨妈在起居室里跟着音乐跳舞。这可不是你一个人跳的那种舞，而是她假装在和别人跳舞。她伸出双臂，脸上带着梦幻般的神情，在房间里转来转去，就好像有一个看不见的舞伴在引导着她。这意味着孩子们担心把朋友带回家，以防发生尴尬的事情。因此，他们的朋友比其他人少。不过，他们很喜欢彼此陪伴，在学校里也能见到朋友。

Aunt Rebecca also had firm ideas about a number of things, and the most important of these matters was food.
丽贝卡姨妈对很多事情也有自己的看法，其中最重要的就是食物。

'People eat the most dreadful rubbish,' she would say. 'Look at all that terrible butter and sugar and other unhealthy things they put down their throats!"
她会说："人们吃的都是最可怕的垃圾。'看看那些可怕的黄油、糖和其他不健康的东西，他们把它们塞进喉咙里！"

Aunt Rebecca's idea of a healthy meal was carrot soup followed by raw cabbage and nuts and washed down with tomato juice. Now this was all very healthy, of course, and tasty too, but if you ate nothing else, then you began to want something different.
丽贝卡姨妈眼中的健康饮食是胡萝卜汤，然后是生卷心菜和坚果，最后用番茄汁冲洗干净。当然，这些都很健康，也很美味，但如果你什么都不吃，就会开始想吃点不一样的东西。

'Oh, for some chips!' John whispered to his sister as they sat down to their raw onion rings and diced turnip.
哦，来点薯片！当他们坐下来吃生洋葱圈和萝卜丁时，约翰小声对妹妹说。

'I'd give anything for a piece of chocolate cake!' replied Nicky under her breath. "With a twirl of cream on the top!'
我愿意为一块巧克力蛋糕付出一切！"尼基小声回答道。"再在上面抹点奶油！

'What was that!' barked Aunt Rebecca, looking sternly at the children. 'Did you say something about the onions?'
那是什么！"丽贝卡姨妈叫道，严厉地看着孩子们。你是不是说了什么洋葱的事？

'No, Aunt,' said John in a sad voice. 'We said nothing about onions.'
不，姑妈，"约翰伤心地说。我们没说过洋葱的事。

'A fine vegetable the onion,' said Aunt Rebecca, peering at the pile of raw onion on
'洋葱是一种很好的蔬菜，'丽贝卡姨妈说道，她盯着洋葱上的一堆生洋葱。
her plate. 'It's very good for the blood, you know.'
她的盘子。这对血液很有好处，你知道的。

'And they make you smell,' Nicky murmured.
尼基喃喃地说："它们让你闻起来很香。

'What?' snapped Aunt Rebecca. 'What was that?'
'什么？'丽贝卡姨妈喝道。那是什么？

'I said, "And they keep you well",' said Nicky timidly.
尼基怯生生地说："我说：'它们让你身体健康'。

'Indeed they do,' said Aunt Rebecca. 'Now eat up, children. There's a nice glass of carrot juice to follow.'
确实如此，"丽贝卡姨妈说。'现在吃吧，孩子们。接下来还有一杯美味的胡萝卜汁。

It was difficult for the children not to think about food. Every day, on their way home from school, they would pass the doors of the best restaurant in town. And every time they went past, their noses would catch the delicious cooking smells.
孩子们很难不想到食物。每天放学回家的路上，他们都会经过镇上最好的餐馆门前。每次经过，他们的鼻子都会闻到美味的烹饪香味。

The children would have loved to eat in the restaurant, but how could they? Then, one Friday, Nicky had an extraordinary stroke of luck.
孩子们很想去餐厅吃饭，但怎么可能呢？后来，在一个星期五，尼基遇到了一件非常幸运的事。

She had received a letter that morning from an uncle, who lived far away, but who always sent birthday presents. This year he had forgotten to do so and had written to tell her how sorry he was. And in the letter, to
那天早上，她收到了一位叔叔的来信，这位叔叔住得很远，但总是会给她寄生日礼物。今年他忘了送礼物，写信告诉她他很抱歉。信中写道
make up for the birthday present, he sent Nicky a crisp new banknote. Nicky had never had so much money before and she found it difficult to make up her mind as to what to do with it.
为了弥补生日礼物的损失，他给尼基寄了一张崭新的钞票。尼基以前从未有过这么多钱，她发现自己很难下定决心用这些钱做什么。

'You could buy a new pen,' John suggested, as they walked home from school together.
你可以买一支新笔，"约翰在他们一起从学校走回家的路上建议道。

'I've got a pen,' Nicky said.
我有一支笔，"尼基说。

'Or you could buy a game,' John went on. 'I don't want one,' said Nicky.
或者你可以买一个游戏，"约翰继续说。我不想要，"尼基说。

They were now just outside the restaurant. From within, there came the delicious smell of cooking, and they both stopped to sniff the air.
他们现在就在餐厅外面。从餐厅里飘出阵阵美味的烹饪香味，两人都停下脚步，嗅了嗅空气中的味道。

'I could take us to lunch,' Nicky said suddenly, her face breaking into a smile.
我可以带我们去吃午餐，"尼基突然说道，脸上绽放出笑容。

'Do you really want to?' John said, hardly daring to believe the offer.
你真的想吗？约翰几乎不敢置信地说。

'Yes,' said Nicky firmly. 'Let's go straight in.'
是的，"尼基坚定地说。我们直接进去吧。

And they did. 他们做到了。

CHAPTER 2 第 2 章

'A table for two, please,' said Nicky to the waiter as he glided forward to meet them.
请给我一张双人桌，"尼基一边向前走一边对服务员说。

'Of course,' said the waiter politely. 'Would you please come with me.'
当然可以，"服务员礼貌地说。请跟我来。

They followed him to a table near the window. There he drew out the chairs and invited them to sit down. Laid out on the table there was a crisp white tablecloth,
他们跟着他来到靠近窗户的一张桌子旁。他拉开椅子，请他们坐下。桌子上铺着洁白的桌布、
shining silver knives and forks, and sparkling crystal glasses.
闪亮的银质刀叉和晶莹剔透的水晶杯。

With a flourish the waiter produced the menu.
服务员兴冲冲地拿出了菜单。

'I shall be back soon,' he said. 'I shall take your order then.'
我很快就回来，"他说。'我到时候再为您点菜。

Nicky opened the menu and looked at the list of dishes it contained. Many of them were written in French, and she had no idea what they were. Others were easier to understand. She knew what roast beef was and she had a good idea what chocolate meringue would look like. Then her face fell. John noticed. 'What's wrong?' he asked.
尼基打开菜单，看着上面的菜肴清单。很多菜都是用法语写的，她根本不知道是什么菜。另一些则比较容易理解。她知道烤牛肉是什么，也很清楚巧克力蛋白酥皮是什么样子。然后她的脸就垮了下来。约翰注意到了。怎么了？"他问。

'I've just seen what it all costs,' Nicky whispered. 'I haven't got nearly enough money.
尼基低声说："我刚刚看到了这一切的代价。我的钱还远远不够。

She passed the menu over to her brother. He turned pale as he read.
她把菜单递给弟弟。他看完后脸色大变。

'There's nothing here that we can afford,' he said. 'We'll have to sneak out.'
这里没有我们买得起的东西，"他说。'我们得偷偷溜出去。

They looked about them. Their table was
他们环顾四周。他们的桌子
far from the door and they would have to walk past everybody else if they were to leave.
如果他们要离开，就必须经过其他人。

'Come on,' said John, beginning to push his chair back. 'There's no point in staying.'
来吧，"约翰说着，开始把椅子往后推。留下来也没什么意义。

At that moment, the swing doors into the kitchen opened and out came the waiter. Smiling, he crossed the restaurant to stand at the side of their table.
这时，厨房的旋转门打开了，服务员走了出来。他微笑着穿过餐厅，站在他们的桌边。

'Well,' he said cheerfully. 'Have you had the time to make your choice?'
'好吧，'他愉快地说。你有时间做出选择吗？

Nicky gazed down at the tablecloth.
尼基低头看着桌布。

'I'm sorry,' she said, in a small voice. 'We haven't got enough money. It all costs far too much.'
对不起，"她小声说。我们没有足够的钱。这一切都太贵了。

John braced himself for the waiter's anger.
约翰强忍着侍者的怒火。

The waiter said nothing for a few moments. Then, he leant forward, and whispered, 'How much have you got? You show me.
服务员好一会儿没说话。然后，他向前倾了倾身子，低声问道：'你有多少钱？给我看看。

Nicky took the note out of her pocket and showed it to him.
尼基从口袋里掏出纸条给他看。

'Oh dear,' said the waiter. 'I can see that
天哪，"服务员说。我看得出
you have no idea how much restaurants cost.' He shook his head. 'Oh dear! Oh dear!
你不知道餐馆要花多少钱。他摇了摇头。'哦，天哪！Oh dear!

'Don't worry,' said John. 'We'll go right now. And we're sorry for wasting your time.'
别担心，"约翰说。我们马上就走。很抱歉浪费你的时间。

' no you don't,' the waiter said. 'It's a rule at any really good restaurant that nobody goes out hungry. You were my guests the moment you stepped in the door, and I won't have my guests disappointed.'
不，你不会的，"服务员说。'在任何一家真正的好餐厅，都有一条规矩，那就是没有人会饿着肚子出门。你们一进门就是我的客人，我不会让我的客人失望。

'Do you really mean that?' asked Nicky.
尼基问：'你真的是这个意思吗？

'Of course I do,' said the waiter. 'Now, what I
我当然知道，"服务员说。现在，我

suggest is 建议

that we think 我们认为

of some 的一些

thing that doesn't 不

cost quite as much as
相当

the dishes on the menu. I'll get the chef to make it specially for you.'
菜单上的菜肴。我会让厨师专门为你做的。

The waiter thought for a moment, then he made his suggestion.
服务员想了一会儿，然后提出了他的建议。

'I know!' he said. 'What about a good bowl of spaghetti? You could afford that.'
我知道！"他说。一碗美味的意大利面怎么样？你吃得起的。

Nicky looked at John, who said nothing.
尼基看着约翰，后者一言不发。

'Well,' said the waiter. 'You like spaghetti, don't you
服务员说：'好吧。你喜欢意大利面，对吧

'No,' said Nicky. 'I mean yes. I mean, well, we've never actually eaten spaghetti.'
'不，'尼基说。我是说可以。我是说，我们从来没吃过意大利面条。

The waiter straightened up in astonishment.
服务员惊讶地直起身来。

'You've never eaten spaghetti!' he exclaimed. 'Do you mean to say you've never even tasted it?
'你从来没吃过意大利面条！'他惊呼道。你是说你连尝都没尝过？

'No,' said Nicky. 'We've never even tasted it. You see, we live with our aunt, and she's the president of the Carrot and Nut League, and -
不，"尼基说。我们连尝都没尝过。你看，我们和姨妈住在一起，她是胡萝卜坚果联盟的主席，而且

The waiter cut her short.
服务员打断了她的话。

'Let's waste no more time,' he said. 'Two spaghettis coming up!
我们不要再浪费时间了，"他说。'两份意大利面上来了！

John and Nicky did not have to wait long. Within minutes, the waiter had placed before them two large plates of spaghetti, topped with generous helpings of thick sauce. The mere smell of the mouth-watering dish was almost enough for the children; but the taste, and the feel, and the longness of it ... well, there are no words lengthy enough to describe all that.
约翰和尼基没有等太久。没过几分钟，服务员就在他们面前摆上了两大盘意大利面条，上面淋上了浓浓的酱汁。光是闻到这道让人垂涎欲滴的菜肴的香味，就足以让孩子们垂涎三尺了；而它的味道、触感和绵长的口感......更是无法用言语来形容。

At the end of the meal, with their plates scraped quite clean, Nicky paid and the two of them said goodbye to the waiter.
用餐结束时，他们的盘子已经被刮得干干净净，尼基付了钱，两人向服务员道别。

'Come back one day,' the waiter said, with a smile.
改天再来吧，"服务员微笑着说。

Nicky nodded, but she knew that there was very little chance that they would be able to afford another meal. And as for John, he knew that it would be a long, long time, if ever, before they tasted spaghetti again.
尼基点了点头，但她知道，他们能再吃上一顿饭的机会微乎其微。至于约翰，他知道他们要很久很久才能再吃到意大利面了。

CHAPTER 3 第 3 章

It was back to carrot juice and raw onion again, with only the memory of that delicious spaghetti to keep them going. They tried to raise the subject of spaghetti with Aunt Rebecca, but it merely sent her into a rage. 'Certainly not!' she exploded. 'T'm not having that stuff in my kitchen. The mere thought of it!'
她们又回到了胡萝卜汁和生洋葱的日子，只有美味意大利面条的记忆还在支撑着她们。她们试图向丽贝卡姨妈提起意大利面的话题，但这只会让她大发雷霆。当然不行！"她爆发了。我的厨房里不能有那东西。一想到它！'

'But there's nothing wrong with spaghetti,' John pleaded. 'It's quite healthy.'
但意大利面条没什么不好，"约翰恳求道。它很健康。

'But look what people put on it,' Aunt Rebecca replied heatedly. "Thick red sauce, full of Heaven knows what! Oils, spices, grease, meat, and so on. No. Absolutely not.'
'但看看人们在上面放了什么，'丽贝卡姨妈激烈地回答道。"浓稠的红酱，满满的天知道是什么！油、香料、油脂、肉等等。不，绝对不行。

John gave up, and Nicky didn't even bother to argue with her aunt.
约翰放弃了，尼基甚至懒得和姑妈争辩。

'One day,' she said to herself. 'One day I shall have spaghetti again. I know I shall!'
'总有一天，'她对自己说。'总有一天，我还能吃到意大利面。我知道我会的！'

Several weeks later, John was reading a magazine that had come with the newspaper, when something caught his eye. There on the page was a brightly-coloured advertisement with a picture of a large bowl of spaghetti. The sight of the spaghetti made his mouth water as it brought back the memory of that marvellous meal in the restaurant. Then he read on, and he realised that here was their chance.
几周后，约翰在阅读随报附赠的一本杂志时，有样东西引起了他的注意。页面上有一则色彩鲜艳的广告，图片上是一大碗意大利面条。看到意大利面条，他的口水都要流出来了，因为这勾起了他对餐厅里那顿美餐的回忆。他接着往下看，意识到他们的机会来了。

'Look,' he said to Nicky. 'We shall have to enter.'
看，"他对尼基说。我们必须进去。

Nicky took the advertisement and read it
尼基接过广告，读了起来
through. It had been inserted in the magazine by the manufacturers of Pipelli's Spaghetti, and this is what it said:
通过。这是皮佩利意大利面制造商在杂志上刊登的内容：

Spaghetti is best served with sauce, as we all know. But what sauce is best? Everybody has his or her favourite, so why not send us your recipe? We shall choose the one we think is best, and as a prize the winner will be invited to lunch with our chairman, Mr Pipelli, right here in our spaghetti works. You will see how spaghetti is made and you will even be able to try your hand at making some yourself! So enter straightaway!
众所周知，意大利面最好配酱汁。但什么酱最好吃呢？每个人都有自己的最爱，为什么不把您的食谱寄给我们呢？我们将选出我们认为最好的食谱，作为奖品，获胜者将受邀与我们的董事长皮佩利先生共进午餐，就在我们的意大利面工厂。您将亲眼目睹意大利面的制作过程，甚至可以亲自尝试制作意大利面！赶快报名吧！

Nicky glanced at John.
尼基瞥了约翰一眼。

'Do you really think we could enter?' she said. 'Do you think we'd stand a chance?'
你真的认为我们能参赛吗？你觉得我们有机会吗？

'Of course we would,' replied John. 'Somebody's got to win.'
我们当然会，"约翰回答道。总得有人赢。

'But what about a recipe?' asked Nicky. 'I don't have a recipe for sauce.'
但食谱呢？"尼基问。我没有酱料的配方。

'I've already thought about that,' John said. 'Do you remember that sauce we had at
我已经想过了，"约翰说。你还记得我们在
the restaurant? Well, we could ask the chef if he would give us the recipe and if we could use it for the competition. It doesn't have to be your own invention - it only has to be your favourite recipe.'
餐厅？好吧，我们可以问问厨师是否愿意把食谱给我们，我们是否可以用它来参加比赛。不一定非得是你自己的发明，只要是你最喜欢的食谱就行。

Nicky was doubtful, but when John promised that he would do the asking at the restaurant, she agreed. Cutting the entry form out of the magazine, she tucked it into her pocket.
尼基对此表示怀疑，但当约翰答应在餐厅帮忙询问时，她同意了。她从杂志上剪下报名表，放进口袋里。

'What are you doing?' Aunt Rebecca asked sharply, but before Nicky could reply a pan of parsnips started to boil over in the kitchen and Aunt Rebecca had to dash off to deal with it.
你在干什么？丽贝卡姨妈尖声问道，但尼基还没来得及回答，厨房里的一锅香菜就开始沸腾了，丽贝卡姨妈不得不赶紧跑去处理。

'I can't wait,' John whispered. 'I've got a feeling that we're going to win.'
我等不及了，"约翰低声说。我有预感，我们会赢。

They went to the restaurant the next day. The waiter recognised them and gave them a warm smile of welcome.
第二天，他们来到餐厅。服务员认出了他们，对他们报以热情的微笑。

'We're not here to have lunch,' said John. 'We're here for a recipe.'
我们不是来吃午饭的，"约翰说。我们是来找食谱的。

The waiter was surprised, but when they
服务员很惊讶，但当他们
explained what they had in mind he gave them a wink and told them to wait. A few minutes later, he came out of the kitchen with a piece of paper in his hand.
他向他们解释了自己的想法，然后向他们使了个眼色，让他们等着。几分钟后，他从厨房走出来，手里拿着一张纸。

'The chef didn't mind at all,' he said. 'In fact, he was flattered by your request. Here's the recipe.'
厨师一点也不介意，"他说。事实上，你的请求让他受宠若惊。这是食谱。

Nicky took the recipe and studied it. Then they both thanked the waiter and left the restaurant.
尼基接过食谱研究了起来。然后，两人向服务员道谢，离开了餐厅。

'I hope you win,' he called out. 'And the chef hopes so too. He was very interested in the competition and he says that he will enter one of his other recipes as well. But don't worry - he's sure you've got the best one of all!'
我希望你赢，"他喊道。'厨师也希望如此。他对这次比赛非常感兴趣，他说他还会参加他的其他菜谱的比赛。不过别担心，他肯定你的菜是最好吃的！'

CHAPTER 4 第 4 章

Nicky filled in the form and sent it off to the Pipelli Spaghetti Company. Then the waiting began. The advertisement had said that the results would be announced 'within three weeks', and to make sure that they didn't miss the announcement, the children pored over the newspaper every day. And every day they were disappointed.
尼基填好表格，寄给了皮佩利意大利面公司。然后，等待就开始了。广告上说结果将在 "三周内 "公布，为了确保不错过这个消息，孩子们每天都在翻阅报纸。但每天他们都失望而归。

'I don't know why you're suddenly so interested in the news,' Aunt Rebecca said. 'I'm sure you must be up to no good.'
我不知道你为什么突然对新闻这么感兴趣，"丽贝卡姨妈说。我相信你一定没干什么好事。

Then, one Friday afternoon, John saw the item he had been waiting for. It was a small notice, tucked away in the corner of a page. 'The results of the Pipelli Spaghetti Competition will be published tomorrow,' it said. 'Make sure you don't miss them!'
然后，在一个星期五的下午，约翰看到了他一直在等待的东西。那是一张小告示，夹在一页的角落里。上面写着：'皮佩利意大利面大赛的结果将于明天公布。请务必不要错过！"。

John and Nicky could barely wait. When at last they saw the next day's newspaper, they opened it with shaking hands. Sure enough, there on the front page was a large advertisement headed: Lucky Winner.
约翰和尼基几乎等不及了。当他们终于看到第二天的报纸时，他们颤抖着双手打开了报纸。果然，头版头条是一则大广告，标题是：幸运的赢家

'I can't bear to read it,' Nicky said. 'I'll close my eyes. You read it and tell me if we've won.'
我不忍心看，"尼基说。'我闭上眼睛。你看完后告诉我我们是否赢了。

Nicky closed her eyes. There was a silence.
尼基闭上了眼睛。一片寂静。

'Have we won?' she asked. 'Do tell me.'
我们赢了吗？请告诉我。

She opened her eyes. John was staring glumly at the page.
她睁开眼睛。约翰正目光呆滞地盯着书页。

'No,' he said. 'Somebody else won.'
'不，'他说。'别人赢了。

He paused. Then, turning sadly to Nicky, he read out what was written in the paper:
他停顿了一下。然后，他悲伤地转向尼基，读出了报纸上写的内容：

There were hundreds and hundreds of entries in the spaghetti competition. Most of the recipes were very good indeed, although some were not. (Some were very bad.) At last the winner has been chosen and a letter has been sent to the fortunate person.
参加意大利面条比赛的作品成百上千。大多数食谱都非常好，但也有一些不好。(最后选出了优胜者，并给幸运儿寄去了一封信。

Nicky looked thoughtful. 'But it could have been us,' she said. 'It doesn't say we didn't win. The letter could be on its way to us.'
尼基看起来若有所思。但也可能是我们，"她说。信上没说我们没赢。信可能正在寄给我们的路上。

John pondered what his sister said. She could be right. Perhaps there was a letter in the post for them. Perhaps it would arrive tomorrow, or the day after that.
约翰思考着姐姐的话。她可能是对的。也许有一封信寄给他们。也许明天或后天就会到。

So the next day they waited for the post to drop through the door. Rushing to pick it up, they quickly shuffled through the letters to see if there was anything for them. No. There were one or two bills, a magazine, and several letters from
于是，第二天他们就等着邮递员上门。他们急忙去取，然后快速翻阅信件，看看是否有他们要的东西。没有，只有一两张账单、一本杂志和几封来自
members of the Carrot and Nut League nothing for them.
胡萝卜和坚果联盟的成员没有为他们做任何事情。

It was the same the following day, and the day after that.
第二天也是如此，后天也是如此。

'How long do letters take to arrive?' Nicky asked.
信要多久才能到？尼基问道。

'I'm not sure,' replied John. 'Two or three days. Maybe more.'
'我不确定，'约翰回答道。两三天吧。也许更多。

He knew, though, that there was now no chance of their having won, and when nothing arrived through the post the next day he told Nicky that there was no point in believing any longer that they might have won.
但他知道，现在他们已经没有赢的可能了。第二天，当邮局没有寄来任何东西时，他告诉尼基，再相信他们可能会赢已经没有意义了。

It was bitterly disappointing. They had known that there would have been hundreds of people entering in the competition, and they had known in their heart of hearts that it was very difficult to win a competition like that, and yet it seemed to them as if they might have come so very close.
他们感到非常失望。他们知道会有成百上千的人参加比赛，他们心里也清楚，要在这样的比赛中获胜是非常困难的，但在他们看来，他们似乎已经非常接近了。

'Never mind,' said John, trying to sound more cheerful. 'Whoever did win will be very pleased with the news.'
'没关系，'约翰说，试图让自己听起来更高兴一些。不管是谁赢了，听到这个消息一定会非常高兴。

And after that, they did not talk about the competition any more. They also tried to forget about spaghetti, and to give up all thought of ever eating it again and they tried to avoid the restaurant. They now crossed the street before they reached it, so that they would not be forced to breathe in the delicious smells or see the diners at their tables. Then, a few days later, as they were walking past on the other
从那以后，他们再也不谈论比赛了。他们还试图忘掉意大利面，放弃再吃意大利面的念头，尽量避开那家餐厅。现在，他们在到达餐馆之前就穿过了街道，这样就不会被迫呼吸到美味的气味，也不会看到餐桌上的食客。几天后，当他们从另一条街走过时

side of the street, they heard a shout.
在街边，他们听到了一声喊叫。

'Hello there!' cried a voice. 'Hello, you two!
你们好！"一个声音喊道。'你们好，你们两个！

John spun round. There, standing in the door of the restaurant and beckoning them
约翰转过身来。站在餐厅门口向他们招手的是
across the street, was their friend the waiter.
街对面是他们的朋友服务员。

'I want to speak to you,' he shouted out.
我想和你谈谈，"他大声喊道。

Reluctantly, John and Nicky crossed the street to stand before the waiter.
约翰和尼基不情愿地穿过街道，站在服务员面前。

'Where have you been?' he asked. 'I've been on the look-out for you.'
你去哪儿了？"他问。我一直在找你。

'We've been going home a different way,' explained John, without going on to tell him why this was.
约翰解释说："我们回家的路不同了。

'I see,' said the waiter. 'Anyway, the important thing is that I've found you.'
我明白了，"服务员说。不管怎样，重要的是我找到你了。

The waiter drew them into the doorway.
侍者把他们引到门口。

'I've got amazing news for you,' he confided. "The chef won the spaghetti competition. Isn't that wonderful?'
'我有个惊人的消息要告诉你，'他吐露道。"厨师赢得了意大利面条比赛。是不是很棒？

John glanced at Nicky. So the chef was the lucky person after all. If only he had given them his recipe and kept theirs!
约翰瞥了尼基一眼。原来厨师才是幸运儿。如果他把自己的食谱给他们，而保留他们的食谱就好了！

'And you're pleased?' asked the waiter.
服务员问道：'您满意吗？

'Of course,' said John bravely. 'Please tell him we're very happy for him.'
当然，"约翰勇敢地说。请转告他，我们为他感到高兴。

The waiter laughed. 'Happy for yourself, more likely. He can't go.
服务员笑了。'更像是为你自己高兴。他不能走。

John and Nicky looked puzzled.
约翰和尼基一脸疑惑。

'He can't visit the spaghettii factory,' said the waiter. 'He's far too busy. And so he wants you two to have his prize for him. He's been in touch with Mr Pipelli, who says that that's perfectly all right with him. All that you have to do is to arrange a time.'
服务员说："他不能去参观意大利面工厂。'他太忙了。所以他想让你们俩帮他拿奖品。他已经和皮佩利先生联系过了，皮佩利先生说他完全没问题。你们要做的就是安排好时间。

John clapped his hands together with delight. He could scarcely believe their good luck. They had resigned themselves to losing the competition, and now it was just as if they had won. He was already beginning to imagine what the factory would be like and what he would say to Mr Pipelli. And Nicky, although still astonished by their sudden stroke of good fortune, was thinking exactly the same thing.
约翰高兴地拍起手来。他几乎不敢相信他们的好运气。他们已经做好了输掉比赛的准备，而现在却好像赢了一样。他已经开始想象工厂会是什么样子，他会对皮佩利先生说些什么。尼基虽然还在为他们突如其来的好运感到惊讶，但也在想同样的事情。

CHAPTER 5 第 5 章

Aunt Rebecca was not at all pleased.
丽贝卡姨妈一点也不高兴。

'A spaghetti factory!' she exploded. 'Did you say a SPAGHETTI factory?
'意大利面工厂！'她爆发了。你说意大利面工厂？

'Yes,' said John. 'Mr Pipelli's Spaghetti Factory.
是的，"约翰说。皮佩利先生的意大利面工厂。

'You can't go,' she said. 'I won't hear of it.' 'But why not?' Nicky pleaded. 'There's nothing wrong with spaghetti.'
'你不能去，'她说。我不会听你的。但为什么不呢？尼基恳求道。意大利面条没什么不好。

'We've already discussed that,' said Aunt Rebecca. 'And you know my views. No. And that's all there is to it.'
我们已经讨论过这个问题了，"丽贝卡姨妈说。你也知道我的观点。不，这就是全部。

John thought quickly. 约翰很快想到。

'It is rude to turn down an invitation, isn't it?' he asked. He knew very well Aunt Rebecca was most particular about manners.
他问道：'拒绝邀请很不礼貌，不是吗？他很清楚丽贝卡姨妈最讲究礼仪。

'Of course it is,' snapped his aunt. 'It's very rude, unless you've got a good reason.'
'当然是这样，'姨妈抢着说。这是非常不礼貌的，除非你有充分的理由。

'Well,' said John. 'Mr Pipelli has invited us to have lunch with him in his factory. Surely it would be rude to say no.'
约翰说。皮佩利先生邀请我们去他的工厂共进午餐。当然，拒绝是不礼貌的。

Aunt Rebecca was cornered. Eventually, after a lot more grumbling, she had to accept that it would be impolite for John and Nicky not to go, and permission was given.
丽贝卡姨妈走投无路了。最后，经过一番抱怨，她不得不接受约翰和尼基不去是不礼貌的这一事实，并同意他们去。

'Well done!' Nicky whispered to her brother. 'I can almost smell the spaghetti already!
干得好！尼基低声对弟弟说。我几乎已经闻到意大利面的香味了！

'What was that?' asked Aunt Rebecca suspiciously. 'What did you say?'
那是什么？"丽贝卡姨妈怀疑地问。你说什么？

But, from the kitchen, there came a squeak from the pressure cooker, and Aunt
但是，厨房里传来了高压锅的 "吱吱 "声。

Rebecca had to dash off to attend to a pot of fresh seaweed, which was now done just to a turn.
丽贝卡不得不赶去处理一盆新鲜的海藻，现在只差一个转身。

On the day of the visit, John and Nicky were ready well before the spaghetti factory car arrived. The driver settled them in their seats, and they began the long journey to the factory.
参观当天，约翰和尼基在意大利面条厂的车到来之前就已经准备就绪。司机把他们安顿在座位上，他们就开始了前往工厂的长途旅行。

'You'll like Mr Pipelli,' the driver said. 'Everybody likes him the moment they meet him. You just wait and see.,
你会喜欢皮佩利先生的，"司机说。每个人一见到他都会喜欢他。你就等着瞧吧、

They drove for an hour or so before they arrived. It was a very large factory - much bigger than either of them had imagined and over the front gate there was a great sign made out of metal letters: PIPELLI'S SPAGHETTI - THE KING OF SPAGHETTIS.
他们开了一个多小时的车才到。这是一家非常大的工厂--比他们想象中的都要大得多，正门上方有一个用金属字母做成的巨大招牌："Pipelli's Spaghetti --意大利面之王"："皮佩利意大利面条" "意大利面条之王

The car swept into the driveway and came to a halt outside the main office. Ushered into the entrance hall by the driver, the two visitors were shown to a door which said, quite simply, THE BOSS.
汽车驶入车道，在主办公室外停了下来。在司机的引领下，两位访客来到入口大厅，门上简单地写着 "老板"。

'Go on,' said the driver. 'Knock.'
继续，"司机说。敲门。

And Nicky did. 尼基做到了。

The door flew open the moment Nicky's knuckle hit the wood. There, before them, stood a stout man in a checked suit. He had curly black hair, sparkling eyes and a smile that seemed to split his face in two.
就在尼基的指关节碰到木头的一瞬间，门突然打开了。在他们面前，站着一个身穿格子西装的壮汉。他有一头卷曲的黑发，一双闪闪发亮的眼睛，脸上的笑容似乎要把他的脸分成两半。

'Well, well,' he said. 'My two guests! Please come in!
'好，好，'他说。我的两位客人！请进

John and Nicky entered the room cautiously. It was a more splendid office than they had ever imagined. On the walls were large paintings of Italy, framed in heavy gold frames. On the mantlepiece, above the marble fireplace, there were cups and trophies, and at the far end was a great wooden desk, on which stood a large gold pen-stand.
约翰和尼基小心翼翼地走进房间。这是一间比他们想象中还要富丽堂皇的办公室。墙上挂着意大利的巨幅油画，镶在厚厚的金框里。大理石壁炉上方的壁炉架上摆放着奖杯和奖杯，最里面是一张大木桌，上面放着一个金色的大笔架。

'Yes,' said Mr Pipelli, as if reading their thoughts. 'It is a splendid room, and I have indeed made a great deal of money out of spaghetti.'
是的，"皮佩利先生说，仿佛看出了他们的心思。'这是一间华丽的房间，我确实从意大利面条中赚了一大笔钱。

'I didn't mean to stare,' John said
我不是故意盯着你看的，"约翰说。
apologetically. 'It's just that I've never seen . . .
抱歉地说'只是我从来没见过. . .

'But you are here to stare,' Mr Pipelli protested. 'That's why I invited you. Today you may stare and stare as much as you like, and nobody will think it the slightest bit odd!'
皮佩利先生抗议说：'但你是来盯着看的。'这就是我邀请你们来的原因。今天你们可以尽情地看，尽情地看，没有人会觉得有丝毫奇怪！'

The driver had been right. Both John and Nicky liked Mr Pipelli immediately. Whenever he spoke he smiled, and when he wasn't speaking, his eyes twinkled with merriment. He was just the sort of person who would run a competition like this, and
司机是对的。约翰和尼基一眼就喜欢上了皮佩利先生。他一说话就笑，不说话的时候眼睛里也闪烁着快乐的光芒。他就是那种会举办这样一场比赛的人，而且

he was just the sort of person who would make sure that the winners had fun.
他就是那种会确保获胜者玩得开心的人。

'Well,' said Mr Pipelli, rubbing his hands together. 'Let's go and take a look at the works. I've been in the spaghetti business for twenty years, you know, and I feel as excited by what goes on here as I was the day I started. So let's not wait any longer! Let's go and take a look at how spaghetti is made!"
好吧，"皮佩利先生搓着手说。'我们去看看工程吧。我做意大利面条生意已经二十年了，你知道，我对这里的一切都感到兴奋，就像我刚开始做意大利面条时一样。所以我们不要再等了我们去看看意大利面是怎么做出来的！"

They walked out of Mr Pipelli's office and made their way along a passageway that led into the heart of the factory. At the end of the passageway there was a door, which Pipelli opened with a flourish.
他们走出皮佩利先生的办公室，沿着一条通往工厂中心的通道一路前行。通道尽头有一扇门， ，皮佩利兴冲冲地打开了门。

'In this very room,' he said, his voice lowered in awe, 'we see the very beginnings of spaghetti.'
他说，"就在这个房间里，我们看到了意大利面条的雏形。

John and Nicky craned their necks to see beyond Mr Pipelli. They were standing in the entrance to a large room in the centre of which stood a gigantic mound of flour. From this mound, people in white overalls were
约翰和尼基伸长脖子，想看看皮佩利先生以外的地方。他们站在一个大房间的入口处，房间中央矗立着一个巨大的面粉堆。穿着白色工作服的人正从这个土堆上
taking heaped shovels to pour into great metal mixers. As the flour was shovelled in, white clouds rose like steam, making the faces of the workers seem as pale as if they had just seen ghosts.
工人们拿着成堆的铁锹，把面粉倒进巨大的金属搅拌机里。当面粉被铲进搅拌机时，白云像蒸汽一样升腾起来，工人们的脸色苍白得像刚见过鬼一样。

'A dusty business at this stage,' remarked Mr Pipelli, taking out a large silk handkerchief with which to remove the fine layer of flour that had already settled on the front of his suit.
皮佩利先生说："这个阶段尘土飞扬，"他拿出一块大丝绸手帕，用它来擦去西装前襟上的一层面粉。

John and Nicky followed the spaghetti manufacturer as he led them across to the mixing machines. At the side of each bowl there was a woman with a watering can. As each spadeful of flour was put into the bowl, she tipped her can over the edge and poured in a stream of thick, greenish liquid.
约翰和尼基跟着意大利面制造商来到搅拌机旁。在每个碗的边上，都有一个拿着水壶的女人。当每一铲面粉被倒入碗中时，她就把罐子翻过来，倒入一股浓稠的绿色液体。

'Olive oil,' explained Mr Pipelli. 'It's very important in the making of spaghetti. And these ladies know exactly how much olive oil to put in each bowl. They all come from the same part of Italy - every one of them where everybody, absolutely everybody,
橄榄油，"皮佩利先生解释道。橄榄油对意大利面的制作非常重要。这些女士们非常清楚每碗里要放多少橄榄油。她们都来自意大利的同一个地方--每个人都在那里，绝对是每个人、
knows all there is to know about olive oil!'
对橄榄油了如指掌！'

John looked at the woman beside the bowl, who smiled at him, winked, and before he knew what was happening had tossed back her head, opened her mouth, and poured a stream of olive oil right down her throat!
约翰看了看碗旁边的女人，她对他笑了笑，眨了眨眼睛，在他明白发生了什么之前，她已经仰起头，张开嘴，一股橄榄油直接倒进了她的喉咙！

John looked aghast, but Mr Pipelli just laughed.
约翰一脸惊愕，但皮佩利先生只是笑了笑。

'Don't worry about that,' he said. 'They live on olive oil. There's nothing they like better.'
别担心，"他说。他们以橄榄油为生。他们最喜欢橄榄油了。

He nodded to the woman as they began to move on.
当他们开始继续前进时，他向那位女士点了点头。

'Thank you, Olivia,' he said. 'And do take the rest of the day off, if you wish!'
谢谢你，奥利维亚，"他说。如果你愿意，今天剩下的时间就休息吧！'

As they went on, Mr Pipelli turned to the children and whispered.
当他们继续前进时，皮佩利先生转过身对孩子们低声说道。

'She won't take the day off,' he explained. 'She loves her job so much that she'll want to stay. This is a very happy factory, you see!'
她不会请假的，"他解释道。她非常热爱她的工作，所以她会想留下来。你看，这是一家非常幸福的工厂！'

CHAPTER 6 第 6 章

'Next,' said Mr Pipelli as they prepared to leave the room. 'Next we shall see what happens to the dough. This is the really exciting part!
接下来，"当他们准备离开房间时，皮佩利先生说。接下来我们要看看面团会发生什么变化。这才是真正令人兴奋的部分！

Wondering what they were going to see next, John and Nicky followed their host through a door into another large room. This room was much noisier, as it was filled by a
约翰和尼基不知道接下来会看到什么，他们跟着主人穿过一扇门，进入另一个大房间。这个房间更加嘈杂，因为里面坐满了人。
large machine, which was shuddering and shaking and making the most peculiar squelchy sound.
这台大型机器正在颤抖，发出最奇特的 "吱吱 "声。

'This,' said Mr Pipelli proudly, 'is the actual spaghetti-making machine! This is the very heart of the factory.'
皮佩利先生自豪地说："这就是真正的意大利面条制作机！这是工厂的核心。

John and Nicky gazed at the giant machine. At one end, there was an open bowl, almost the size of a swimming pool, into which the dough which had been mixed next door was being loaded in great sticky globules. From that, a number of thick pipes led into the machine itself, one side of which was covered with a variety of dials and levers. Then, at the far end of the machine, more people in white uniforms were bustling about, taking strands of finished spaghetti in their hands like bundles of wool.
约翰和尼基注视着这台巨大的机器。在机器的一端，有一个开放式的碗，几乎有一个游泳池那么大，隔壁搅拌好的面团正粘成一大团一大团地装进碗里。从那里，一些粗大的管道通向机器本身，机器的一侧布满了各种刻度盘和杠杆。然后，在机器的远端，更多穿着白色制服的人熙熙攘攘地走来走去，手里拿着一捆捆像羊毛一样的意大利面条成品。

'This is the spaghetti spinner,' explained Mr Pipelli, proudly. 'It is, in fact, the most advanced and expensive spaghetti spinner in the world. Not only can it make spaghetti, it can make macaroni, canelloni, tagliatelli
这就是意大利面搅拌机，"皮佩利先生自豪地解释道，"事实上，它是世界上最先进、最昂贵的意大利面搅拌机。事实上，它是世界上最先进、最昂贵的意大利面搅拌机。它不仅可以制作意大利面条，还可以制作通心粉、意大利通心粉、意大利面条。
and every other shape of pasta you could dream of!
以及你能想到的其他各种形状的意大利面！

Mr Pipelli's expression had become dreamy.
皮佩利先生的表情变得如梦如幻。

'Just the names of all the pastas make my mouth water,' he said. 'Just think of them! Capellini! Quadretinni! Nastrini! Farfallette?
他说："光是所有意大利面的名字就让我垂涎欲滴。'只要一想到它们！卡佩里尼！Quadretinni！纳斯特里尼Farfallette？

He closed his eyes in ecstasy before he remembered that he had visitors and came back to earth. With a look of pride, he pointed to the other side of the room.
他陶醉地闭上了眼睛，然后才想起自己还有访客，于是又回到了人间。他一脸自豪地指着房间的另一边。

'And that's the finished product being hung up to dry,' he said. 'That's only a week's output of spaghetti - enough to supply an entire city for at least a year!"
他说："这就是正在晾晒的成品。'这只是一周的意大利面条产量，足够供应整个城市至少一年！"

John and Nicky gazed at the towering white racks on which the spaghetti had been hung up to dry. You could get lost in that, John thought; and if you did, it would be like being in a spaghetti forest.
约翰和尼基凝视着晾晒意大利面条的高耸的白色架子。约翰想，你可能会迷失在其中；如果你真的迷失了，那就像置身于面条森林中一样。

Mr Pipelli made his way towards the machine, beckoning the children to follow him.
皮佩利先生向机器走去，召唤孩子们跟上他。

'These dials control the shape,' he said, pointing to a line of the buttons and wheels along the side of the machine.
他指着机器侧面的一排按钮和滚轮说：'这些刻度盘可以控制形状。

He turned and whispered in Nicky's ear.
他转过身，在尼基耳边低语。

'Have you ever seen twisty spaghetti?' he asked.
你见过扭曲的意大利面条吗？

Nicky shook her head.
尼基摇了摇头。

'Then watch,' said Mr Pipelli, fiddling with one of the dials.
那就看着吧，"皮佩利先生摆弄着其中一个表盘说。

As the dials turned, the noise inside the machine seemed to change briefly and within a few seconds the most amazing twisty spaghetti began to emerge at the other end.
随着转盘的转动，机器内的声音似乎发生了短暂的变化，几秒钟后，最神奇的扭曲面条开始在另一端出现。

Mr Pipelli turned to John, beaming with pride.
皮佩利先生转向约翰，脸上洋溢着自豪的笑容。

'I'm the only person in the world who makes that,' he said. 'Now, what about you? Would you like to try a special shape?'
他说：'世界上只有我做这个。现在，你呢？你想试试特别的形状吗？

John reached forward to the dial and began to turn it gingerly.
约翰把手伸向表盘，开始轻轻转动。

'A little bit more to the left,' prompted Mr Pipelli. 'Now to the right.'
再往左一点，"皮佩利先生提示道。现在向右转。

Nicky watched with fascination as the machine began to respond to her brother's instructions.
尼基着迷地看着机器开始响应她哥哥的指令。

'It's round!' she cried out. 'Round spaghetti!'
'是圆的！'她喊道。圆面条！

Mr Pipelli cast a glance at the place where the spaghetti was emerging.
皮佩利先生看了一眼面条出现的地方。

'Well!' he exclaimed. 'What an interesting shape. Perhaps we'll have to make more of that.'
'嗯！'他惊呼道。'形状真有趣。也许我们得多做一些这样的东西。

John craned his neck to see the results of his adjustment. The round spaghetti was certainly very interesting, and tastylooking too, but perhaps it was a little bit too short.
约翰伸长脖子想看看自己调整的结果。圆面条当然非常有趣，看起来也很美味，但可能有点太短了。

'Can I make it longer?' he asked.
他问道：'我可以再长一点吗？

'Anything you wish,' said Mr Pipelli. 'Just pull that lever over there.'
皮佩利先生说："你想做什么都行。拉一下那边的拉杆就可以了。

John gave the lever a tug.
约翰拉了一下杠杆。

'Not so far!' shouted Mr Pipelli, but it was too late. The machine gave a shudder and started to whine. Almost immediately, from the other end, immensely long strands of spaghetti began to shoot out. In fact, they
别跑太远！"皮佩利先生喊道，但为时已晚。机器颤抖了一下，开始发出呜呜声。几乎就在同时，从另一端开始喷射出一缕缕长长的意大利面条。事实上，它们
were so long that they appeared to have no end at all.
它们如此之长，似乎根本没有尽头。

'Cable spaghetti!' moaned Mr Pipelli, rushing around and throwing his hands in the air. 'Exactly what every spaghetti manufacturer dreads more than anything else!
'电缆意大利面！'皮佩利先生呻吟着，急忙举起双手。'这正是每个意大利面条制造商最害怕的东西！

It took Mr Pipelli a minute or two to recover himself. During this time, the machine continued to spew out the strands of endless spaghetti. At the other end, the
皮佩利先生花了一两分钟才恢复过来。在这段时间里，机器继续喷出一缕缕无穷无尽的意大利面条。在另一端

spaghetti workers frantically tried to pick up the growing mounds of spaghetti strands, but no sooner did they manage to shift some of them than the machine produced more than they had taken away. It was a hopeless task.
面条工人疯狂地试图拾起越来越多的面条，但他们刚刚转移了一些面条，机器就生产出了比他们拿走的更多的面条。这是一项毫无希望的任务。

Then, when at last he began to calm down, Pipelli managed to find the switch which turned the machine off. With a last heave and gurgle, the giant spaghetti-making device squeezed out the last few feet of spaghetti and became silent.
后来，当他终于开始平静下来时， ，皮佩利设法找到了关闭机器的开关。巨大的意大利面条制造装置最后一次 "咕嘟咕嘟 "地挤出了最后几英尺长的意大利面条，然后变得悄无声息。

Mr Pipelli mopped his brow.
皮佩利先生擦了擦眉毛。

'Don't worry,' he said to John. 'That wasn't your fault. This machine's been faulty for a good few months. It was bound to do that sooner or later.'
别担心，"他对约翰说。这不是你的错。这台机器出故障已经好几个月了。它迟早会这样的。

John was relieved to hear this. He had been certain it was all his fault.
听到这个消息，约翰松了一口气。他一直认为这都是他的错。

"We'll have to try and deal with all that spaghetti,' said Mr Pipelli. 'Then I intend to do something about fixing this machine.'
皮佩利先生说："我们得设法处理这些意大利面条。然后我打算想办法修好这台机器。

Mr Pipelli now took John and Nicky to stand beside the vast mountain of spaghetti.
现在，皮佩利先生带着约翰和尼基站在堆积如山的意大利面旁边。

'It's going to be rather difficult,' he said despondently. "We'll have to find the ends of the strands - then we'll have to roll this all up. That's the only way to do it.'
这将会相当困难，"他沮丧地说。"我们必须找到这些线的末端，然后把它们都卷起来。这是唯一的办法。

John and Nicky looked at the spaghetti. It seemed like an impossible task to sort out the muddle of strands, and yet, as John looked, he saw what looked like an end. Cautiously he reached down and picked it up.
约翰和尼基看着面条。要理清这些杂乱无章的面条似乎是不可能完成的任务，然而，约翰看着看着，他看到了一个像是末端的东西。他小心翼翼地伸手把它捡了起来。

'Well done!' said Mr Pipelli. 'Now just pull on it.'
'干得好！'皮佩利先生说。'现在拉上它。

John did as he was told and gradually drew out a long strand of spaghetti. It seemed to go on forever and soon he was standing at the other end of the room, linked to the pile of spaghetti by a long, slithery strand.
约翰照着他说的做，渐渐地拉出了一长串意大利面条。这似乎是永无止境的，很快，他就站在了房间的另一端，与那堆面条通过一条长长的、滑溜溜的丝线连在了一起。

While this was happening, Nicky had spotted another end which she took hold of and began to draw out. Soon she was standing by John's side while Mr Pipelli went off to a storeroom to look for something
就在这时，尼基发现了另一头，她抓住那头开始往外抽。很快，她就站在了约翰的身边，而皮佩利先生则去储藏室找东西了。
to wind it round. After a few minutes he came back, carrying an empty barrel. Then, closely supervised by Mr Pipelli, the children began the slippery task of winding the still-wet spaghetti on to the barrel. It was slow work, as the spaghetti kept getting twisted and knotted up, but at last it was finished and the mountain of spaghetti began to look much smaller.
把它绕了一圈。几分钟后，他提着一个空桶回来了。然后，在皮佩利先生的密切监督下，孩子们开始把还湿漉漉的意大利面条缠绕到木桶上。这项工作进展缓慢，因为意大利面条不断缠绕打结，但最终还是完成了，堆积如山的意大利面条看起来小了很多。

'We shall let the spaghetti workers do all the rest,' said Mr Pipelli, who was beginning to look very much more cheerful. 'Now, let's take a look at this machine. Does either of you know anything about machinery?'
皮佩利先生说："剩下的事情就交给面条工人吧，"他的神情开始变得开朗起来。现在，我们来看看这台机器。你们谁懂机械？

John and Nicky shook their heads. They could put the chain back on a bicycle - but you would have to know a great deal more than that to be able to fix something as complicated as a spaghetti-making machine. Mr Pipelli looked slightly disappointed.
约翰和尼基摇摇头。他们可以把自行车的链条装回去，但要修好像意大利面条机这样复杂的东西，你必须懂得更多。皮佩利先生显得有些失望。

'Oh dear,' he said. 'I don't know much about it myself. Still, we can have a go!'
'哦，天哪，'他说。我自己也不太懂。不过，我们还是可以一试！'

John and Nicky watched quietly as Pipelli picked up a screwdriver and began to unscrew a metal plate on the side of the machine.
约翰和尼基静静地看着 ，皮佩利拿起一把螺丝刀，开始拧开机器侧面的一块金属板。

'This is the inspection hatch,' he explained cheerfully. 'It allows us to get inside the works.'
这是检查舱门，"他愉快地解释道。'它可以让我们进入工程内部。

John looked doubtfully at Nicky and
约翰疑惑地看着尼基
gulped. What would be inside that great, gleaming machine? And what could they possibly do inside it? Was Mr Pipelli quite sure that it was turned off completely?
咽了咽口水。那台闪闪发光的巨大机器里会有什么？他们能在里面做什么？皮佩利先生确定机器已经完全关闭了吗？

Mr Pipelli unscrewed the last screw and put the screwdriver down. Then, carefully taking hold of the edges of the plate, he took it off and laid it down on the floor.
皮佩利先生拧下最后一颗螺丝，放下螺丝刀。然后，他小心翼翼地抓住盘子的边缘，把盘子取下来放在地板上。

John and Nicky peered through the hatch.
约翰和尼基从舱门探出头来。

'It's very dark inside,' ventured John. 'Perhaps we should call a mechanic. He might know where everything is.'
里面很黑，"约翰冒险说。也许我们应该找个技工。他可能知道所有东西都在哪里。

Mr Pipelli chuckled. "Why go to all that trouble and expense?' he said breezily. 'Most machines are quite simple once you work out what's what. And as for the darkness, there's a torch here. So let's go in.'
皮佩利先生笑了笑。他轻描淡写地说："为什么要花那么多钱呢？'大多数机器都很简单，只要你搞清楚什么是什么。至于黑暗，这里有手电筒。我们进去吧。

Mr Pipelli led the way, and he was followed by Nicky. John brought up the rear.
皮佩利先生在前面带路，尼基紧随其后。约翰跟在后面。

'T'm scared,' whispered Nicky. "What if somebody turned the machine on while we were in here?'
我害怕，"尼基低声说。"如果我们在这里的时候有人打开了机器怎么办？

John did not try to answer her question.
约翰没有回答她的问题。

Yet there was no doubt in his mind that they would be in very serious trouble if that happened. All about them there were rollers, sifters, crushers and squeezers. The squeezers looked particularly dangerous, and John thought that anybody who got caught up in one of those would stand a very good chance of looking rather like a piece of spaghetti when they eventually got him out.
然而，毫无疑问，如果发生这种情况，他们就会有大麻烦。在他们周围，到处都是滚筒、筛子、破碎机和挤压机。挤压机看起来特别危险，约翰认为，任何被卷入其中的人，当他们最终把他弄出来时，都很有可能看起来像一块面条。

'You've no need to worry about that,' said Mr Pipelli jovially. 'It's impossible to turn the machine on when the inspection hatch is open. Now, we've got to locate the bit that controls the length. Can anybody see it?'
你不必担心，"皮佩利先生风趣地说。当检查舱门打开时，是不可能开启机器的。现在，我们必须找到控制长度的部件。有人能看到吗？

John looked up and at that precise moment a large blob of unsqueezed spaghetti dough fell down the back of his neck.
约翰抬起头，就在那一瞬间，一大团未挤压的意大利面团从他的脖子后面掉了下来。

'Perhaps we should be wearing overalls,' said Mr Pipelli, noticing what had happened. 'Still, one can't expect to visit a spaghetti factory and not get a little bit of spaghetti here and there!'
皮佩利先生说："也许我们应该穿工作服，"他注意到发生了什么。不过，参观意大利面条厂，总不能不在这里或那里吃到一点意大利面条吧！'

Mr Pipelli flashed his torch about him. Suddenly he let out a cry of triumph.
皮佩利先生用手电筒照着他。突然，他发出了一声胜利的欢呼。

'That's it,' he said. 'That's where the problem is.
'就是这样，'他说。问题就出在这里。

The children looked at the place where the beam of light was resting. High up at the top of the machine, the spaghetti had become hopelessly tangled. It was like a giant ball of knitting that had gone terribly wrong.
孩子们看着光束停留的地方。在机器顶端的高处，意大利面条已经毫无希望地缠绕在一起。它就像一个巨大的编织球，出了大问题。

Mr Pipelli passed the torch to John to hold while he tried to pull down the tangle, but try as he might he could not quite reach high enough. After he had failed three times he stood back and scratched his head.
皮佩利先生把手电筒递给约翰，让他拿着，自己则试图把缠在一起的绳子拉下来，但他怎么努力也够不到足够高的地方。在他失败了三次之后，他站了起来，挠了挠头。

'I know what we'll do,' he said, after a while. 'You climb on my shoulders, John, and we'll do it that way.'
我知道该怎么做了，"过了一会儿，他说。你爬到我的肩膀上，约翰，我们就这样做。

Nicky held the torch while John clambered on to Mr Pipelli's shoulders. Then, as Mr Pipelli moved into position, John began to tug at the mess of spaghetti.
尼基拿着火把，约翰则爬到皮佩利先生的肩膀上。然后，当皮佩利先生移动到合适的位置时，约翰开始拽乱面条。

It was not easy work. The spaghetti was sticky and had wound itself round and round in a maze of loops and knots. John tugged and pulled, only pausing to wipe strands of spaghetti off his face. And all the time, he heard Mr Pipelli huffing and puffing beneath him, trying to keep him in the right position. Then, just as he had pulled off the last strand, Mr Pipelli's legs gave out from underneath him and John found himself tumbling down, closely
这可不是件容易的事。面条黏糊糊的，一圈又一圈地缠绕在迷宫般的线圈和结里。约翰拉了又拉，只停下来擦擦脸上的面条。他一直听到皮佩利先生在他身下呼哧呼哧地喘着粗气，试图让他保持正确的姿势。然后，就在他拉断最后一根面条时，皮佩利先生的双腿从他脚下松开了，约翰发现自己翻了下来，紧紧地抱住了皮佩利先生。
followed by the great ball of spaghetti he had just dislodged.
紧随其后的是他刚刚弄掉的一大团面条。

The spaghetti was soft, of course, which was a good thing, but when John got up he was covered in it from head to toe.
当然，面条是软的，这是好事，但当约翰站起来时，他从头到脚都沾满了面条。

'I'm terribly sorry,' said Mr Pipelli, nonetheless still sounding very cheerful. 'But at least we've fixed the machine. I'm sure it'll work now!'
我非常抱歉，"皮佩利先生说，尽管如此，他听起来还是非常高兴。但至少我们已经修好了机器。我相信它现在能工作了！'

'But what about me?' John mumbled from somewhere within the tangle of spaghetti. 'I'm afraid I'm all tied up.'
但我怎么办？约翰在面条纠结的某处喃喃自语。恐怕我被绑起来了。

Mr Pipelli flashed the torch over John.
皮佩利先生用手电筒照着约翰。

'I see,' he said. 'Yes, well maybe we should do something about you. Now, I'll just start pulling on this piece here . .
我明白了，"他说。是的，也许我们应该为你做点什么。现在，我就开始拉这块......"。.

Mr Pipelli took hold of a strand of spaghetti and began to tug. As he did so, John felt the spaghetti slithering around him, like the coils of an impossibly long snake.
皮佩利先生抓住一缕面条，开始拉扯。他这样做的时候，约翰感觉到意大利面条在他身上滑来滑去，就像一条长得无法想象的蛇在盘绕。

'That's it!' said Mr Pipelli enthusiastically. 'It's coming away nicely.'
'就这样！'皮佩利先生热情地说。'它正在漂亮地消失。

Mr Pipelli spoke too soon. Although the
皮佩利先生说得太快了。虽然
spaghetti had begun to move, it had also begun to tighten.
面条开始移动，也开始收紧。

'Please stop,' John called out. 'It's tying me up so that I can't move.'
'请停下，'约翰喊道。'它把我绑得动弹不得。

Mr Pipelli shook his head.
皮佩利先生摇了摇头。

'We'll have to get you out of here somehow,' he said. 'Then we can have a better look at the problem.'
我们得想办法把你弄出去，"他说。'然后我们才能更好地解决问题。

Helped by Nicky, Mr Pipelli managed to half roll, half push John out of the hatch and back into the factory. The spaghetti workers stood round, gazing at John, scratching their heads.
在尼基的帮助下，皮佩利先生成功地半滚半推地把约翰推出了舱门，带回了工厂。面条工人们站在一旁，望着约翰，挠着头。

'Can anybody think of a way to get him out of there?' asked Mr Pipelli. 'If we pull at the spaghetti it seems just to get worse.'
谁能想个办法把他弄出来？"皮佩利先生问道。如果我们拉面条，情况似乎会变得更糟。

The spaghetti workers whispered among themselves. They had seen all sorts of things happen in the spaghetti factory. They remembered the day when Mr Pipelli dropped his hat into the spaghetti machine and had watched helplessly as it had come
意大利面条工人们窃窃私语。他们在意大利面条厂里见过各种各样的事情。他们还记得有一天，皮佩利先生把帽子扔进了意大利面条机，然后无助地看着帽子掉了下来
out the other end in long strands of material. They all remembered that very well and still talked about it whenever they saw their employer wearing anything on his head. In fact, one of the spaghetti workers had called her new baby Cappello, which means 'hat' in Italian - just to remind her of that marvellous incident. Yes, they had seen many strange things, but never anything quite as strange as this.
他们都记得很清楚。他们都对此记忆犹新，每当看到雇主头上戴着什么东西时，他们都会谈论这件事。事实上，一位意大利面条工人给她刚出生的孩子起名叫 Cappello，在意大利语中是 "帽子 "的意思--就是为了让她想起那件奇事。是的，他们见过很多奇怪的事情，但从来没有像这样奇怪过。

As they were standing about, wondering how they could possibly get John out of the tangle, one of the women suddenly stepped forward and whispered something in Mr Pipelli's ear. It was Olivia.
正当他们站在一旁，琢磨着怎样才能让约翰摆脱困境时，一个女人突然站了出来，在皮佩利先生耳边低声说了些什么。是奥利维亚。

Mr Pipelli listened gravely, stroked his chin, and then nodded.
皮佩利先生严肃地听着，摸了摸下巴，然后点了点头。

'That might just work, Olivia,' he said. 'You just go and fetch the - you know what I mean - and we'll try.'
'这可能行得通，奥利维亚，'他说。你只要去把--你知道我的意思--拿来，我们就可以试试。

Nicky tugged at Mr Pipelli's sleeve.
尼基拽了拽皮佩利先生的袖子。

'What are you going to do?' she asked timidly. 'You're not going to hurt him are
你打算怎么做？"她胆怯地问。你不会伤害他吧
you? Aunt Rebecca will be furious if you do.
你？如果你这么做，丽贝卡姨妈会大发雷霆的

Mr Pipelli patted her gently on the shoulder.
皮佩利先生轻轻拍了拍她的肩膀。

'Of course not,' he said reassuringly. Then, whispering, he went on to explain. 'Olivia suggested that we -' his eyes glistened with mischief "- that we pour olive oil all over him. In that way he'll be slippery enough to wriggle his way out of the spaghetti! Now, isn't that a brilliant idea?'
当然不是，"他安慰道。然后，他低声解释道。奥利维亚建议我们--"他的眼睛里闪烁着狡黠的光芒，"我们把橄榄油倒在他身上。这样他就会很滑，可以从面条里挣扎出来！这主意不错吧？

Before Nicky had the chance to reply, Olivia had returned. Fortunately, John could not see out of the spaghetti tangle and so he was unable to watch them raise the large can over his head and begin to pour. The first thing he knew of it was when he felt the cold, slippery oil slithering its way all over him.
尼基还没来得及回答，奥利维亚就回来了。幸运的是，约翰无法从纠缠在一起的意大利面条中看到外面的情况，所以他无法看到他们把大罐子举过他的头顶并开始倒油。当他感觉到又冷又滑的油在他身上滑来滑去时，他才知道这一切。

'Now!' shouted Mr Pipelli. 'Wriggle!'
'现在！'皮佩利先生喊道。蠕动！

John did as he was told and, after a few moments of wriggling and hopping, he felt himself begin to slip out of the tangle. With a final shiver and shake, he popped out of
约翰照他说的做了，经过片刻的扭动和跳跃，他感觉自己开始从纠结中滑脱出来。随着最后一次颤抖和摇晃，他从
the tangle and was free. As he did so, all the spaghetti workers raised a cheer of delight.
解开了纠结，获得了自由。当他这样做时，所有面条工人都发出了欢呼声。

John was thrilled to be free of the spaghetti. In fact, he was so pleased, that he hardly noticed the fact that he was covered, not only with little bits of spaghetti, but with olive oil too.
摆脱了意大利面条的束缚，约翰非常兴奋。事实上，他高兴得几乎没有注意到自己身上不仅沾满了面条的碎屑，还沾满了橄榄油。

Mr Pipelli beamed with pleasure.
皮佩利先生高兴地笑了。

'Now we can try the machine again,' he said. 'Let's see if we've fixed it.'
现在我们可以再试一次机器了，"他说。看看我们是否修好了。

It took only one press on the button. With a great whirring the machine came back to life, working perfectly.
只需按一下按钮。随着一阵巨大的呼啸声，机器恢复了生机，工作正常。

'We did it!' shouted Mr Pipelli. 'Everybody take a day's holiday!"
我们成功了！"皮佩利先生喊道。'大家放假一天！"

The spaghetti workers gave another rousing cheer and Mr Pipelli turned to John and Nicky.
面条工人们再次发出热烈的欢呼声，皮佩利先生转向约翰和尼基。

'And as for you, my friends,' he said, 'let's go straight to the factory kitchen and have lunch. I've asked the chef to cook the very best plate of spaghetti he can manage, so I can assure you it should be most delicious.'
至于你们，我的朋友们，"他说，"让我们直接去工厂厨房吃午饭吧。我已经让厨师做了一盘他能做的最好的意大利面条，所以我可以向你们保证，这一定是最美味的。

Mr Pipelli was right. The lunch was even tastier than the one which John and Nicky had eaten in the restaurant. There was not just one plate of spaghetti for each person there were six! There was:
皮佩利先生说得没错。午餐比约翰和尼基在餐厅吃的还要美味。不仅每人一盘意大利面，还有六盘！还有

For the first course:
第一道菜

Spaghetti with special cheese sauce, made out of Swiss cheese with holes. The spaghetti was threaded through the holes of the cheese and tied in bows!
意大利面配特制奶酪酱，由带孔的瑞士奶酪制成。意大利面条被穿进奶酪的小孔里，然后打成蝴蝶结！

For the second course:
第二道菜

A single strand of spaghetti ten yards long. This strand was curled round and round on the plate and had to be sucked up into the mouth and swallowed all in one piece!
一根十码长的意大利面条。这根面条在盘子里卷了一圈又一圈，必须一口气吸进嘴里咽下去！

For the third course:
第三道菜

Spaghetti which was plain on the outside but which had the sauce inside the hollow centre. Many tried to make such spaghetti, but only Mr Pipelli could do it.
面条外表平淡无奇，但中间空心的地方却有酱汁。许多人都尝试过制作这样的意大利面，但只有皮佩利先生能做到。

For the fourth course:
第四道菜

Indian cobra spaghetti. This spaghetti stood up on end like a cobra. It swayed as
印度眼镜蛇意大利面这种面条像眼镜蛇一样竖起来。它摇摆时
you tried to eat it, but was very delicious when caught.
你想吃它，但抓到它时却非常美味。

For the fifth course:
第五道菜

Needle spaghetti. This spaghetti was so thin that you could suck it into your mouth through the spaces in between your teeth!
针意大利面。这种面条非常细，你可以通过牙齿之间的空隙把它吸进嘴里！

For the sixth, and final course:
第六课，也是最后一课：

Ordinary spaghetti in the most delicious red sauce imaginable. There was oodles of sauce, which had to be slurped up with the spaghetti. Everybody made a great noise doing this, and got covered with sauce, more or less from head to toe. Second helpings were served - twice!
普通的意大利面配上最美味的红色酱汁。酱汁很多，必须和面条一起咽下去。每个人都大呼小叫，从头到脚都沾满了酱汁。大家又吃了两次！

Afterwards, as full and as happy as they had ever been in their lives, the children were led by Mr Pipelli to the front door and ushered into a waiting car.
之后，孩子们在皮佩利先生的带领下，来到前门，坐上了等候在那里的汽车，他们感到从未有过的充实和快乐。

'Thank you so much for all your help,' he said, as he shook hands with them. 'And perhaps we shall meet again one day. After all, who knows what life can bring?'
非常感谢你们的帮助，"他边说边与他们握手。也许有一天我们还会再见面。毕竟，谁知道生活会带来什么呢？

The car drew away from the factory, with
汽车驶离了工厂，与此同时

Mr Pipelli still standing on the steps, waving his handkerchief at his departing guests. Inside the car, John and Nicky were happier than they had been for years. It didn't matter that John had a blob of spaghetti dough lodged down the back of his shirt. It did not matter that the rest of his clothes were covered with sticky strands of spaghetti as well as being soaked in olive oil. Nor did it matter that Nicky's dress was splattered with hundreds of reminders of the red sauce. It had been a marvellous, exciting day and they both knew they would remember every moment of it forever.
皮佩利先生还站在台阶上，向离去的客人挥舞着手帕。在车里，约翰和尼基比几年前更开心了。约翰的衬衫后面粘着一团意大利面团，这并不重要。他的其他衣服也沾满了黏糊糊的意大利面条，还被橄榄油浸湿了，这都不重要。尼基的衣服上也溅满了数以百计的红色酱汁。这真是奇妙、激动人心的一天，他们都知道，他们会永远记住这一天的每一刻。

CHAPTER 8 第 8 章

'Look at you!' hissed Aunt Rebecca, quivering with rage. 'Just look at you!'
看看你！"丽贝卡姨妈气得浑身发抖，声嘶力竭地吼道。看看你！

John hung his head. He had to admit that he looked a bit of a sight, covered as he was with spaghetti, but surely it would all wash off easily enough?
约翰垂下了头。他不得不承认，自己浑身上下都是意大利面条，看起来有点难看，但肯定很容易就能洗掉吧？

'And as for you, Nicky,' Aunt Rebecca went on. 'What were you doing letting your brother
至于你，尼基，"丽贝卡姨妈接着说。你让你哥哥
get himself into such a state? And look at your dress - ruined!
把自己弄成这样？再看看你的裙子--毁了！

'I was holding a torch!' Nicky said timidly. 'Mr Pipelli had John on his shoulders, you see -
我拿着手电筒！尼基胆怯地说。皮佩利先生把约翰扛在肩上，你看

'On his what?' cried Aunt Rebecca. 'You both obviously have a great deal of explaining to do!'
他的什么？"丽贝卡姨妈喊道。你们俩显然有很多事要解释！'

John tried to tell his aunt about what happened, but it only seemed to make matters worse. At the end of his explanation, her face was stormy with anger.
约翰试图把发生的事情告诉姨妈，但这似乎只会让事情变得更糟。在他的解释结束后，她的脸上充满了愤怒。

'I should have known that something like this would happen,' she said. 'Nothing good could be expected of a spaghetti factory! And as for that Mr Pipelli, I very much hope that he has a good explanation when I see him tomorrow.
我早该想到会发生这样的事，"她说。'意面工厂不可能有什么好事！至于那位皮佩利先生，我非常希望明天见到他时，他能给我一个好的解释。

'You're seeing him tomorrow?' Nicky asked. 'But why?"
你明天要去见他？尼基问。'但为什么呢？"

'To complain,' snapped Aunt Rebecca. 'Do you think I'm going to let him get away with all this?'
'抱怨，'丽贝卡姨妈厉声喝道。你以为我会让他这样逍遥法外吗？

John and Nicky remained silent. When Aunt Rebecca was in that sort of mood, they knew there was nothing they could do to persuade her otherwise.
约翰和尼基保持沉默。当丽贝卡姨妈处于这种情绪时，他们知道自己根本无法说服她。

The next day Aunt Rebecca told John and Nicky to get ready to accompany her to Mr Pipelli's factory. They were very unwilling to go, as the last thing they wanted to do was to complain to the generous and likeable Pipelli, but their aunt insisted.
第二天，丽贝卡姨妈让约翰和尼基做好准备，陪她一起去皮佩利先生的工厂。他们非常不愿意去，因为他们最不想做的事情就是向慷慨又讨人喜欢的 Pipelli 抱怨，但姨妈坚持要去。

They arrived at the factory in sunken spirits.
他们带着沉痛的心情来到工厂。

'It's going to be awful,' Nicky whispered to John. 'She's going to make a terrible scene.'
尼基低声对约翰说："会很糟糕的。她会大吵大闹的。

'I know,' said John under his breath. 'And Mr Pipelli will think that we put her up to it.'
我知道，"约翰小声说。皮佩利先生会认为是我们让她这么做的。

The man at the factory gate tried to tell Aunt Rebecca that it would be impossible for her to see Mr Pipelli, but she brushed him aside.
工厂门口的人试图告诉丽贝卡姨妈，她不可能见到皮佩利先生，但她把他推开了。

'If you don't show me to his office,' she said, 'then I shall find my own way there.'
如果你不带我去他的办公室，"她说，"那我就自己想办法去。

The man looked Aunt Rebecca up and down and decided that she was not a person to be trifled with. Reluctantly he led the three of them to the door marked THE BOSS.
男人上下打量了一下丽贝卡姨妈，觉得她不是个好惹的人。无奈之下，他带着三人来到标有 "老板 "的门前。

Aunt Rebecca knocked once, but did not wait for an answer. Throwing the door wide open, she burst into Mr Pipelli's room and marched up to the astonished spaghetti manufacturer's desk.
丽贝卡姨妈敲了一下门，但没有等到回答。她猛地推开门，冲进皮佩利先生的房间，大步走到面条制造商惊愕的办公桌前。

Mr Pipelli sprang to his feet and, hiding his surprise, bowed to Aunt Rebecca.
皮佩利先生猛地站了起来，掩饰住内心的惊讶，向丽贝卡姨妈鞠了一躬。

'My dear lady,' he said, reaching for her hand. 'How kind of you to call on me. I take it that you're the aunt of my two friends.'
'亲爱的女士，'他说着，伸手握住了她的手。您能来拜访我真是太好了。我想您是我两位朋友的姨妈吧。

Aunt Rebecca stopped in her tracks.
丽贝卡姨妈停下了脚步。

'Please,' said Mr Pipelli, kissing her hand. 'Please allow me to offer you a chair.'
请，"皮佩利先生亲吻着她的手说。请允许我为您提供一把椅子。

By now, Aunt Rebecca, overcome by the politeness and charm of the famous spaghetti manufacturer, was completely incapable of complaining.
此时此刻，丽贝卡姨妈已经被这位著名意大利面制造商的礼貌和魅力所征服，完全没有抱怨的能力了。

'Actually,' she began. 'I was rather . . . er . . . rather cross . . .
事实上，'她开始说。我相当......呃......相当生气。

She stopped. Mr Pipelli had now seated her in a chair and had offered her a peppermint from a silver bowl on his desk.
她停了下来。皮佩利先生已经让她坐在椅子上，并从桌上的银碗里拿出薄荷糖给她。

'I don't eat sweets,' said Aunt Rebecca.
丽贝卡姨妈说：'我不吃甜食。

'But how wise!' said Mr Pipelli. 'If only other people would do the same as you.'
皮佩利先生说：'但这多么明智啊！''要是其他人也像你这样做就好了。要是其他人也能像你这样做就好了。

Aunt Rebecca looked suspiciously at Mr Pipelli.
丽贝卡姨妈怀疑地看着皮佩利先生。

'But I don't see how you can say that,' she said. 'After all, you make all that spaghetti which people cover with red sauce and terrible things like that.'
但我不明白你怎么能这么说，"她说。'毕竟，你做的那些意大利面条，人们在上面涂满了红酱，还有那些可怕的东西。

Pipelli waved a hand in the air.
皮佩利向空中挥了挥手。

'Well, perhaps you could help me,' he said, smiling in a charming way. 'I've always wanted to make a healthier sort of spaghetti, but I've never found quite the right recipe.'
也许你能帮我，"他笑着说，笑容很迷人。我一直想做一种更健康的意大利面，但一直没有找到合适的配方。

For the first time that day, Aunt Rebecca smiled.
那天，丽贝卡姨妈第一次露出了笑容。

'Perhaps I could help,' she said, warming to his idea. 'Perhaps I could invent ... carrot-flavoured spaghetti!'
也许我能帮上忙，"她说，对他的想法很感兴趣。也许我可以发明......胡萝卜味意大利面！'

Mr Pipelli clapped his hands together.
皮佩利先生拍了拍手。

'My dear lady,' he said. 'What a brilliant idea! Please, please, do that for me. I should be most grateful if you did.' And at that, Pipelli rose to his feet and kissed her hand
'亲爱的女士，'他说。真是个好主意！请为我做这件事。如果你这么做了，我会非常感激的。说到这里， Pipelli 站起身来，亲吻了她的手
again, making Aunt Rebecca look down at the floor and blush.
这让丽贝卡姨妈低头看着地板，脸红了。

Aunt Rebecca was quite silent on the way back home. When they reached the house, the two children watched her as she made straight for the kitchen and closed the door behind her.
在回家的路上，丽贝卡姨妈一直沉默不语。到家后，两个孩子看着她径直走向厨房，然后关上了身后的门。

'She really means it,' said Nicky. 'She really intends to invent carrot-flavoured spaghetti.'
尼基说："她是认真的。她真的打算发明胡萝卜味意大利面。

'It'll taste awful,' said John. 'The only people who will even think about eating it will be the members of the Carrot and Nut League.'
约翰说：'味道会很糟糕。只有胡萝卜坚果联盟的成员才会考虑吃它。

Aunt Rebecca remained in the kitchen for the rest of the day. She came out briefly at lunchtime, to hand the two children a plate of lettuce sandwiches to eat, but she seemed too preoccupied to talk.
接下来的一天，丽贝卡姨妈一直待在厨房里。午饭时，她出来了一会儿，递给两个孩子一盘生菜三明治吃，但她似乎心事重重，不愿意说话。

At four o'clock in the afternoon, John began to worry. He knocked at the door and asked her if she was all right, but he received no more than a grunt in reply. At
下午四点，约翰开始担心起来。他敲了敲门，问她是否安好，但得到的回答只是 "嗯 "了一声。在
five o'clock he knocked again, and this time Aunt Rebecca opened the door and peered out at him.
五点钟的时候，他又敲了敲门，这次丽贝卡姨妈打开了门，向外窥视着他。

'Yes,' she said. 'What is it?'
是的，"她说。什么事？

'I was wondering if you were all right,' John said. 'We haven't seen you all day.'
我想知道你是否还好，"约翰说。我们一整天都没见到你。

Aunt Rebecca dried her hands on her apron.
丽贝卡姨妈在围裙上擦干了手。

'I'm perfectly all right,' she said. 'And dinner will be at the normal time - seven on the dot.' 'Then she closed the door.
我很好，"她说。'晚餐会在正常时间--七点准时开始。'然后她关上了门。

CHAPTER 9 第 9 章

John and Nicky were sitting at the table at five minutes before seven. At seven o'clock exactly, the door from the kitchen opened and Aunt Rebecca came out carrying a large bowl from which a small cloud of steam was rising. It was obvious to the children that this was not a dish of raw onions or lettuce salad. But what could it be?
七点前五分钟，约翰和尼基坐在餐桌旁。七点整，厨房的门打开了，丽贝卡姨妈端着一个大碗走了出来，碗里冒出了一小团蒸汽。孩子们很清楚，这不是一盘生洋葱或生菜沙拉。那会是什么呢？

'Spaghetti,' announced Aunt Rebecca simply. 'You tell me how much you like the stuff, and so l've made you some.'
'意大利面条，'丽贝卡姨妈简单地宣布。你告诉我你有多喜欢这东西，所以我给你做了一些。

Nicky's mouth fell open with surprise.
尼基惊讶地张大了嘴。

'Spaghetti?' she exclaimed. 'Real spaghetti?"
她惊呼道："意大利面？'真的意大利面？"

'Yes,' said Aunt Rebecca proudly. 'What is more, this is the first bowl, the very first bowl, of carrot-flavoured spaghetti. I've just invented it, and I shall introduce that Pipelli man to it tomorrow.'
是的，"丽贝卡姨妈自豪地说。更重要的是，这是第一碗，第一碗胡萝卜口味的意大利面。这是我刚刚发明的，明天我就把它介绍给那个叫皮佩利的人。

John and Nicky watched suspiciously as the newly-invented spaghetti was ladled on to their plates. It looked like ordinary spaghetti in shape, but it was undeniably carrot-coloured.
约翰和尼基怀疑地看着新发明的意大利面条被舀到他们的盘子里。从形状上看，它和普通的意大利面条没什么两样，但不可否认的是，它是胡萝卜色的。

'Eat up,' said Aunt Rebecca. 'It won't taste nearly so good if you let it get cold.'
吃吧，"丽贝卡姨妈说。'凉了就不好吃了。

Reluctantly John and Nicky wound the yellow strands around their forks and then passed it to their mouths. Then they looked down at their plates, and after that at one another.
约翰和尼基不情愿地把黄丝线绕在叉子上，然后递到嘴里。然后，他们低头看了看自己的盘子，又互相看了看。

'Well?' asked Aunt Rebecca. 'What do you think?
怎么样？"丽贝卡姨妈问道。你觉得怎么样？

'It's marvellous,' said John.
约翰说：'太神奇了。

'Wonderful!' said Nicky.
太棒了！"尼基说。

And they meant it. Aunt Rebecca had invented the most delicious spaghetti they had ever tasted. It was a miracle, and they had been right there in the house when it had happened. Without a break they finished off the rest of the spaghetti before them and then passed the empty plates to their aunt for more.
他们是认真的丽贝卡姨妈发明了她们吃过的最美味的意大利面。这是一个奇迹，而奇迹发生时，她们就在屋子里。她们一口气吃完了面前剩下的意大利面条，然后把空盘子递给姨妈，让她再来点。

'My word!' exclaimed Aunt Rebecca, her face breaking out into a contented smile. 'That's the first time you've asked for more ever!
我的天哪！"丽贝卡姨妈惊呼道，脸上绽放出满足的笑容。这是你第一次要求更多！

Aunt Rebecca telephoned Mr Pipelli the next morning and invited him to the house for lunch. He agreed to come, and when he arrived at the front door he had presents for everyone. John and Nicky each received a fountain pen with a real gold nib, and for
第二天早上，丽贝卡姨妈打电话给皮佩利先生，邀请他来家里吃午饭。他答应了，来到家门口时，他给每个人都带了礼物。约翰和尼基每人都收到了一支真金笔尖的钢笔，而约翰和尼基的礼物是

Aunt Rebecca there was a bouquet of red roses. She became quite speechless when he gave these to her, and when he bent and kissed her hand again the children noticed that she blushed so much that she made the roses look pale.
丽贝卡姨妈那里有一束红玫瑰。当他把这束玫瑰送给她时，她说不出话来，而当他再次弯腰亲吻她的手时，孩子们发现她的脸红得让玫瑰花都显得苍白了。

The new spaghetti was served for lunch. Everyone eagerly awaited Mr Pipelli's reaction, and when it came they were not disappointed. As he took the first mouthful his eyes rolled up to the ceiling in ecstasy. Then, on the second mouthful, he threw his hands up, leapt to his feet, and tossed his table napkin out of the window in his excitement.
午餐时，新的意大利面条上桌了。大家都急切地等待着皮佩利先生的反应，当他的反应出现时，大家都没有失望。当他吃第一口面条时，他陶醉得两眼直盯着天花板。然后，在吃第二口时，他举起双手，一跃而起，兴奋地把桌上的餐巾扔出窗外。

'It is magnificent!' he said, when he had recovered enough to speak. 'We shall start manufacturing this spaghetti immediately.'
'真是太棒了！'当他恢复到可以说话的程度时说道。我们将立即开始生产这种意大利面条。

He sat down and looked seriously at Aunt Rebecca.
他坐下来，认真地看着丽贝卡姨妈。

'You have done the world of spaghetti making a great service,' he said solemnly. 'And that will never be forgotten. Never!'
他郑重地说：'你为世界意大利面制作业做出了巨大贡献。'这一点永远不会被忘记。永远不会！'

'What a nice man you are,' said Aunt Rebecca, 'for a spaghetti manufacturer,' she added. 'Would you care to join us for lunch tomorrow?
你真是个好人，"丽贝卡姨妈说，"作为一个意大利面条制造商，"她补充道，"你明天愿意和我们一起吃午饭吗？你明天愿意和我们一起吃午饭吗？

Mr Pipelli nodded his head enthusiastically and said that this would give him the greatest pleasure. John felt that he should warn him that lunch could well be raw onions and seaweed, but he did not have the opportunity to speak to him privately.
皮佩利先生热情地点点头，说这是他最大的荣幸。约翰觉得自己应该提醒他，午餐很可能是生洋葱和海藻，但他没有机会私下跟他说。

John need not have worried. Mr Pipelli sat at the table the following day and ate his raw onions with every appearance of pleasure. At the end, to the astonishment of the two children, he asked for more.
约翰大可不必担心。第二天，皮佩利先生坐在餐桌旁，津津有味地吃着生洋葱。最后，令两个孩子惊讶的是，他还要求再吃一些。

'Quite delicious,' Mr Pipelli said, smacking his lips rather loudly. 'And so positively good for the system.'
相当美味，"皮佩利先生咂着嘴说，声音相当响亮。'而且对身体非常有益。

'Absolutely,' said Aunt Rebecca, as she ladled more onions on to her visitor's plate.
当然可以，"丽贝卡姨妈一边说，一边往客人的盘子里舀了更多的洋葱。

Mr Pipelli came back to lunch the next day, and the day after that. He and Aunt Rebecca seemed to get on very well, and
皮佩利先生第二天和后天又来吃午饭。他和丽贝卡姨妈似乎相处得很好，而且
they always took a walk round the garden after the meal. There Mr Pipelli would pick roses from Aunt Rebecca's rosebushes (something she normally never allowed anybody to do) and would present them to her with a low bow.
饭后，他们总是在花园里散步。在那里，皮佩利先生会从丽贝卡姨妈的玫瑰丛中摘下玫瑰（她通常不允许任何人这样做），然后低头送给她。

Finally, exactly one week later, Mr Pipelli announced that he had invited Aunt Rebecca to marry him and that she had
最后，整整一个星期后，皮佩利先生宣布，他已经邀请丽贝卡姨妈嫁给他，而她已经

agreed. They would be married the following Saturday and would all move into his mansion near the spaghetti factory.
我同意他们将在下周六举行婚礼，并搬进他在意大利面工厂附近的豪宅。

'Your charming aunt will become Mrs Pipelli,' he said proudly. 'And you, my dear children, will become my step-nephew and step-niece. You can stay with us until your parents have found all the volcanoes they can. After all, there can't be that many. That is, of course, if you agree to this little change in your lives.
你们迷人的姑妈将成为皮佩利夫人，"他自豪地说，"而你们，我亲爱的孩子们，将成为我的继侄子和继侄女。而你们，我亲爱的孩子们，将成为我的继侄子和继侄女。你们可以和我们住在一起，直到你们的父母找到所有能找到的火山。毕竟，不可能有那么多火山。当然，如果你们同意生活中的这个小变化的话。

'Of course we do,' shouted Nicky, and kissed Aunt Rebecca on the cheek. Aunt Rebecca smiled. She seemed much less severe now - it was almost as if she had caught Mr Pipelli's habit of beaming with pleasure at everything he saw.
我们当然愿意，"尼基喊道，并亲吻了丽贝卡姨妈的脸颊。丽贝卡姨妈笑了。她现在似乎不那么严厉了--就好像她已经养成了皮佩利先生的习惯，看到什么都会开心地笑起来。

Because she was in such a good mood, later that day John decided to ask Aunt Rebecca about the last time she had been engaged to be married.
因为她心情很好，当天晚些时候，约翰决定向丽贝卡姨妈打听她上次订婚的情况。

'It was all a very long time ago,' she explained. 'He was a pastry chef, you know
那都是很久以前的事了，"她解释道，"他是个糕点师，你知道的。他是个糕点师，你知道的

For a moment or two Aunt Rebecca looked sorrowful again, as if she were remembering something rather sad.
有那么一两分钟，丽贝卡姨妈又显得愁眉苦脸，好像想起了什么伤心事。

'No,' she said. 'He didn't run away. It's just that he was rather . . . greedy. In fact, he was terribly, terribly greedy. When we ate meals together, he would take things from my plate and pop them into his mouth. I don't think he even knew he was doing it.'
'不，'她说。他没有逃跑。只是他比较......贪婪。事实上，他非常非常贪婪。我们一起吃饭的时候，他会从我的盘子里拿东西往嘴里塞。我想他甚至不知道自己在做什么。

She paused, dabbing at a tear which had appeared in the corner of her eye.
她停顿了一下，擦了擦眼角的泪水。

'He made our wedding cake himself', she said. 'It was the most beautiful cake you can imagine. It was covered with at least four bowls of marzipan and there were six tiers of white icing. Then, the day before the wedding, when I knew that the cake would be finished, I went round to look at it. And that's when I changed my mind.'
她说："他亲手做了我们的结婚蛋糕。那是你能想象到的最漂亮的蛋糕。上面至少铺了四碗杏仁蛋白糖，还有六层白色糖霜。婚礼前一天，当我知道蛋糕要完工时，我去看了看。就在那时，我改变了主意。

John wondered what Aunt Rebecca could
约翰想知道丽贝卡阿姨能
possibly have seen to make her call off the wedding.
这可能是她取消婚礼的原因。

'There he was,' she said. 'He was sitting in his kitchen, looking very pleased with himself. And do you know what he had done? He had eaten the cake - every last crumb of
她说：'他就在那儿。他坐在厨房里，看起来很得意。你知道他做了什么吗？他把蛋糕吃掉了--吃得一干二净。

'All six tiers?' asked Nicky, astonished that one person could be so greedy as to eat his own wedding cake - before the wedding.
全部六层？"尼基问道，他惊讶于一个人竟然如此贪心，在婚礼前就吃掉了自己的结婚蛋糕。

'Yes,' said Aunt Rebecca grimly. 'And when he saw me, he looked very guilty. So I said to him, "Octavius Hunt," (for that was what he was called), "you will have to find somebody else to marry you I'm afraid! You are far, far too greedy for me!",
是的，"丽贝卡姑妈面无表情地说。'当他看到我时，显得非常内疚。于是我对他说："屋大维-亨特，"（因为他就叫这个名字），"恐怕你得找别人娶你了！你对我来说太贪婪了！"、

'Mr Pipelli would never do anything like that,'s said John.
约翰说："皮佩利先生绝不会做这样的事。

At the mention of Mr Pipelli's name, Aunt Rebecca cheered up.
一提到皮佩利先生的名字，丽贝卡姨妈就高兴起来。

'Of course he wouldn't,' she said, closing her eyes dreamily. 'What a marvellous man he is!'
他当然不会，"她说，梦呓般地闭上了眼睛。他是个多么了不起的人！'

From that day on, Aunt Rebecca was a different person. She never scowled, she was cheerful all day, and everything about her seemed so much brighter. But, most remarkable of all, was the change which occurred in Aunt Rebecca's views on food. Of course John and Nicky didn't expect her to give up all her ideas - and she still believed in the beneficial effect of carrots and onions - but she did seem to be a little more prepared to accept that there was nothing really wrong with spaghetti, even if you put some rather thick sauce on it. And that, as far as John and Nicky were concerned, was a major breakthrough.
从那天起，丽贝卡姨妈就变了一个人。她从不皱眉头，整天都很开心，她的一切都显得那么明朗。但最重要的是，丽贝卡姨妈对食物的看法发生了改变。当然，约翰和尼基并不指望她放弃所有的想法--她仍然相信胡萝卜和洋葱对身体有益--但她似乎更愿意接受这样的观点：意大利面条并没有什么不好，即使你在上面放了一些很浓的酱汁。在约翰和尼基看来，这是一个重大突破。

On the day before the wedding, Aunt Rebecca went so far as to cook them some of the ordinary spaghetti which Mr Pipelli had given her. She tasted it herself, and had to admit that it was delicious, even if not quite as delicious as her own carrot-flavoured variety.
婚礼前一天，丽贝卡姨妈特意给他们做了一些皮佩里先生送给她的普通意大利面。她亲口尝了尝，不得不承认味道很好，即使比不上她自己做的胡萝卜口味的面条。

'I suppose I should eat this from now on,'
我想我以后应该吃这个。
she said, a little bit hesitantly. 'After all, as from tomorrow I shall be the new Mrs Pipelli, and I shall have responsibilities towards the spaghetti industry.'
她有点犹豫地说。毕竟，从明天起，我就是新任的皮佩利夫人了，我将对意大利面行业负责。

John tried not to catch Nicky's eye. If he did, he knew that it would be difficult not to smile.
约翰尽量不去看尼基的眼睛。如果他看到了，他知道很难不微笑。

The wedding was a splendid affair. Aunt Rebecca carried a bouquet of yellow flowers which Nicky had specially picked for her from the garden of Mr Pipelli's mansion, and Mr Pipelli beamed more than you would have thought it possible for anybody to beam. Outside, there were crowds of spaghetti workers who cheered heartily as the happy couple emerged.
婚礼非常隆重。丽贝卡姨妈捧着一束黄花，那是尼基特意从皮佩利先生宅邸的花园里为她采摘的。外面是一群意大利面条工人，当这对幸福的新人出现时，他们欢呼雀跃。

'Well done!' they shouted in unison. 'And may you be happy for the rest of your lives.'
'干得好！'他们异口同声地喊道。'愿你们余生幸福。

'Thank you, all,' responded Mr Pipelli. 'And take one week's extra holiday, starting today.'
谢谢大家，"皮佩利先生回应道。从今天开始，多放一周假。

This led to an even greater commotion,
这引发了更大的骚动、
which brought the traffic to a standstill and made people for miles around open their windows to see what great event was happening.
这使得交通瘫痪，方圆几英里的人们都打开窗户，想看看发生了什么大事。

John and Nicky watched all this, their hearts full of happiness. Then, as a large car drew up to take Mr Pipelli and Aunt Rebecca off on their honeymoon to Italy, John and Nicky joined the happy spaghetti workers to throw confetti on the newly-weds.
约翰和尼基看着这一切，心中充满了幸福。然后，当一辆大轿车驶来，载着皮佩里先生和丽贝卡姨妈去意大利度蜜月时，约翰和尼基加入了快乐的意大利面工人的行列，向这对新婚夫妇撒起了彩纸。

But it was not confetti they threw - it was spaghetti - which is an unusual thing to throw at a wedding. But on this occasion it was just right.
但他们扔的不是纸屑，而是意大利面条，在婚礼上扔意大利面条是很不寻常的事情。但这一次却恰到好处。